A FORMER bomber pilot has told of his time in the war as a memorial to his fallen comrades is due to be unveiled in London.

Former Squadron Leader John Clough, 92, from Stoke Abbott, joined 101 Squadron in 1941 and saw action in Europe and Africa.

He was also an acting Wing Commander as part of the elite Pathfinder Force – marking targets with flares ahead of the bombers.

A memorial to the 55,573 servicemen killed in Bomber Command is due to be unveiled on June 28.

Mr Clough found himself in Bomber Command almost by accident with no clear idea what was in store.

He said: “I volunteered to fly tactical aircraft. I was hijacked, as many of us were, to Bomber Command.”

Mr Clough, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five other medals, joined 101 Squadron in 1941.

Mr Clough added: “You had to have a bit of fortune to survive.

“You had to have a good navigator for a start and do what he asked you to do.

“You were like a flock of birds and were in the middle of what we used to call ‘the stream’ – a load of aircraft going towards a target and like a flock of birds the central ones get away with it.”

“Many didn’t and when news came through the inevitable sadness was equally tempered by an all too human ‘I’m glad it wasn’t me’ sentiment,” said Mr Clough.

“It was called the ‘chop rate’ the percentages of air crews out of a hundred in that month who weren’t coming back.

“It added up.”

He was also fortunate his navigator, thinking the situation in Europe was hotting up, volunteered them for the Western desert – a decision that likely saved their lives because it meant during the worse winter for Bomber Command in 1945 they were supervising a troop ship on the way back from India.

On his return he rejoined Bomber Command 582 squadron flying nearly 30 more missions.

He flew more than 40 in total.

Mr Clough said he didn’t think himself brave.

“An operation was an enormous gamut of emotions starting with dread, then excitement of approaching the target, then almost panicky and fearful.

“Then once you were on your way home, particularly when you passed the coast, there was a terrific exhilaration and relief.

“I was absolutely amazed that I did it, and that I survived.”

More than 55,000 from Bomber Command were killed and 8,403 were wounded, 9,838 were prisoners of war out of a total of 125,000.

Jean, Mr Clough wife of 66 years, said: “It is about time their bravery was recognised.”

Her husband, who has no wish to be thought a hero by anyone, won’t be attending the service.